Content by Craig Cochran
ISO 9001:2015—An IntroductionGetting acquainted with the standard
Thu, 12/10/2015 - 11:51
ISO 9001 might be the most confusing document in business history. I first became aware of the standard in the late 1980s when my manager handed it to me and said, “See if you can figure this thing out. Our plant has to get certified.” I took the…
‘Retained Document Information’ in ISO 9001:2015You mean records?
Tue, 11/10/2015 - 16:33
ISO 9001:2015 does a lot of things right, but using clear language isn’t one of them. One of the most glaring examples is the transformation of the word “records” into “retained documented information.” That's right, the standard’s updaters took…
The Leader as StorytellerSmart leaders use the power of stories whenever they have important messages to convey
Thu, 07/19/2012 - 11:18
President Obama was recently quoted in a CBS news article as saying that if he could change anything about his presidency, it would be to tell more stories. That got me thinking. Could “storyteller” really be a legitimate role for a leader…
Product Certification: Developing Meaningful ProgramsFor consumers to know what lies behind the certification seal
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 04:00
Product certifications have exploded in recent years. Products ranging from pine lumber to children’s toys carry some sort of certification, and the organizations issuing certifications are as diverse as the products themselves. What are the…
Verifying the Effectiveness of Corrective ActionVerification isn't an act of suspicion; it’s a necessary part of problem solving.
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 04:00
When I first got into quality, I really hated verifying the effectiveness of actions taken to correct a problem. After all, I was young and inexperienced. All of the people whose actions I was verifying were older, wiser, and more experienced than I…
Don’t Fail Your Customers With the 5 WhysProblem solving begins by understanding the big picture.
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 14:45
So you have a customer complaint. It’s not just any complaint, but a huge one from your biggest customer. The problem affects millions of dollars in business and threatens the survival of your company. Are you going to take action? Of course!…
A Shakespearean Lesson in Leadership<em>Macbeth</em>
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 11:03
War heroes are a special category of leaders. They embody bravery, resoluteness, and strength—quintessential attributes of good leaders. This is exactly the sort of leader Shakespeare gives us at the beginning of Macbeth. At the start of Act 1,…
Defining the ProblemSolving problems begins with understanding them.
Sat, 08/30/2008 - 16:23
A few years ago, we had a mysterious scratching sound in our attic. My 5-year-old daughter was terrified, and everybody’s sleep was being interrupted on a nightly basis. “We need to do something about the noise in our attic,” I told my daughter. “…
A Quality Lesson from HopeulikitEngage top management
Mon, 06/18/2007 - 22:00
A few years ago, I had the good fortune of doing some consulting with B&C Specialty Products in Hopeulikit, Georgia. B&C does light manufacturing, primarily plastic molding and assembly, and they also distribute imported products…
A Quality Lesson from HopeulikitDon’t fail to strategize
Mon, 05/14/2007 - 22:00
Last year, I had the good fortune of doing some consulting with B&C Specialty Products in Hopeulikit, Georgia. B&C does light manufacturing, primarily plastic molding and assembly, and they also distribute imported products produced…